Energy Star is a government-backed initiative awarded to companies striving towards energy efficiency. More than 40% of the Fortune 500 companies – along with thousands of other industrial, commercial, utility, state and local organisations – rely on their partnership with the EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions.
The initiative has helped families and businesses save nearly four trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity and achieve over three billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions since 1992. In 2017 alone, Energy Star helped Americans avoid $30bn in energy costs.
BBU has received the Sustained Excellence honour, only given to companies that have earned Partner of the Year for several years in a row. This marks five consecutive years of absolute energy reduction for BBU.
BBU’s energy achievements
The North American business arm of Mexican bakery giant Grupo Bimbo – the world’s largest bakery business – was recognised for achieving a 5% improvement in energy intensity and a 2% reduction in absolute energy in 2020 over the year prior.
BBU operates more than 50 manufacturing locations across the US, 16 of which earned the Energy Star certification for superior energy efficiency, setting the record for the most Energy Star certified plants of any company in any industry. Three facilities to make enormous strides in 2020 were Denver (with a 27% energy reduction) and Fort Worth (10% reduction), while the Escondido, California, bakery was recognised as Food Processing magazine’s Green Plant of the Year.
The company also expanded its 500-strong fleet of alternatively fuelled vehicles (compressed NG and propane) with 100 electric vehicles following a successful trial of five vehicles in 2020.
“As the largest commercial bakery in the United States, we understand how important it is to be a frontrunner in sustainability practices,” said Ramon Rivera, senior VP, Supply Chain, BBU.
“Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our continued pledge to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs. We are thrilled that our efforts have again been recognized by the EPA.”
BBU’s energy savings is aligned with the company-wide commitment towards sustainability. For four consecutive years, Mexico City-headquartered Grupo Bimbo has been recognised as one of the 135 most ethical companies in the world. The company produces more than 13 thousands items annually under more than 100 recognised umbrella brands in its 197 production plants across the world.
